Fri Sep 20 07:46:56 UTC 2024: ## India’s Top Order Struggles but Ashwin and Jadeja Rescue the Day in Chennai
**Chennai:** India’s batting performance in the first innings of the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chennai was marred by inconsistency, with the top order struggling to find their rhythm. The hosts were reduced to 37/3 early on, before Yashasvi Jaiswal (56) and Rishabh Pant (39) stabilized the innings. However, another collapse followed Pant’s dismissal, leaving India at 144/6.
The tide turned thanks to a crucial partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who counter-attacked with aggression and took India to a respectable total of 339/6 at the end of the day’s play.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted the inconsistency of opener KL Rahul, who made a comeback to the Test side after missing the England series. Despite scoring a brilliant 86 in his previous Test against England, Rahul looked uncomfortable in Chennai, failing to settle on a challenging pitch.
“This is KL Rahul’s story,” Manjrekar said. “He plays a brilliant innings at the Test level, and in the next two to three innings, it seems like he has got a pair in the last Test. Even when you saw him bat today, it almost seemed an innings without purpose.”
Manjrekar attributed Rahul’s inconsistency to a “temperamental problem” that has plagued him throughout his Test career. Despite some impressive centuries, Rahul’s average of 34 and his tendency for low scores suggest a lack of consistency in his temperament.
The second day of the Test saw Jadeja fall early, but Ashwin continued his strong performance. Akash Deep joined Ashwin at the crease, and India reached 366/7 by the time of writing. The focus now shifts to whether Ashwin and Deep can build a substantial lead for India, or if Bangladesh can capitalize on India’s shaky top order and make a comeback in the match.
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